First Nations denounce pipeline as Enbridge shareholders meet
TORONTO — Scores of West Coast First Nations and supporters marched Wednesday on Enbridge’s annual meeting of shareholders to denounce a proposed pipeline that would cross their territories.
The Yinka-Dene Alliance argue the Northern Gateway project poses a threat to aboriginals’ way of life by threatening waterways and ecosystems.
“It’s a ticking time bomb,” said Terry Teegee, vice tribal chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council.
“This company has a lot of breaks in their pipelines; it’s not a matter of if, it’s just a matter of when.”
Project opponents travelled from the West Coast aboard a “Freedom Train” to make their point in the country’s financial heartland.
After a “mingling of the waters” ceremony and speeches from First Nations leaders, the protesters marched several blocks east to the downtown hotel where Enbridge shareholders were meeting.
Outside the hotel, protesters braved rain to drum, sing and chant under the watchful eye of security and police officers, who had escorted them on their march.
They carried signs that read “No pipelines on our lands” and chanted “We can’t drink oil.”
The $5.5-billion project would see crude from Alberta’s oilsands moved through a twin pipeline more than 1,100 kilometres to the B.C. coast. From there, supertankers would ship the crude to Asia.
Calgary-based Enbridge maintains the project would create jobs, stimulate economic development and be safe.
“We wouldn’t be proposing this project if we didn’t have utmost confidence that we could both construct and operate the project with utmost safety and environmental protection,” spokesman Todd Nogier said from Calgary.
Protesters also denounced Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government for proposed legislative changes they say would weaken environmental protections.
Among the changes would be limits on the ability of environmental groups to intervene in project-assessment hearings.
“The Harper government is doing everything in its power to get this project approved, including changing laws and changing policies,” Teegee said.
“This project is not only a threat to our lands, but it is a threat to the democratic system of Canada.”
Enbridge filed its application for Northern Gateway, which would run from Bruderheim, Alta., to Kitimat, B.C., almost two years ago. Environmental hearings began in January of this year, and a decision is not expected until late next year.
Critics argue the pipeline would endanger the habitats of the hundreds of rivers and streams it must cross, and would have a drastic impact on First Nations communities if a spill occurred.
There are also concerns about a dramatic increase in supertanker traffic along the pristine coastline in waterways that can be treacherous.
Mutual fund company NEI Investments and two co-filers called on Enbridge to report within a year about the risks posed by the opposition to Northern Gateway, and how it intends to mitigate them.
“The opposition appears to be significant, widespread and hardening daily,” Jamie Bonham, with NEI which owns 148,000 Enbridge shares in its ethical funds portfolio, told the shareholder meeting.
“It seems likely that this will result in extended litigation.”
On the recommendation of Enbridge management, investors voted the motion down.
In response to a question from Geraldine Thomas-Flurer, with the Yinka-Dene Alliance, on whether the company would listen to First Nations opponents, CEO Pat Daniel said Enbridge was committed to finding common ground.
“That very train that got you here, it was an infrastructure project that was strongly opposed by a lot of people — strongly opposed — that enabled society and Canada,” Daniel said.
“Can I stand here and say that if we have one person opposed that we will not proceed? I can’t, because that’s not the way a democracy works.”
The company said the protests suggest a higher level of opposition than is actually the case.
More than 20 of 50 communities affected by the proposed pipeline have signed on to a 10 per cent equity stake in the project, but the Yinka-Dene have refused to even discuss the idea, Nogier said.
Earlier Wednesday, Enbridge reported a 14 per cent rise in first-quarter adjusted earnings to $376 million.